Actor: Thank you.

"Deeper cooperation?"

After listening to Zhang Yuan's words, Gu Yongqiang pondered their meaning for a moment.

He knew the other person was a rare intelligent individual, and that there was a reason behind his words.

"Deepening cooperation is a good thing," Mr. Gu said with a smile.

"Why don't we sign a long-term cooperation agreement and make 'iPartment' a long-running series?"

"And how about developing some related works, going that far?"

"Hmm?" But Zhang Yuan replied with a nasal tone, "Not deep enough."

"It seems you trust Uku a lot."

“I don’t trust Youku, I trust you,” Zhang Yuan replied.

Gu Yongqiang chuckled a few times.

He admitted to that.

Why is Youku's financing situation relatively good?

It's all because of him, Gu Yongqiang.

The investors don't trust Youku itself, but rather their own Youku.

In fact, this is true of any business: money can be given to you or given to him.

Ultimately, who gets it mostly depends on the person.

"How about we launch a series of collaborations?"

"You work on TV series, movies, and you also make films."

"Why not sign an agreement that covers multiple works?"

"How about this?"

"Hmm?" Zhang Yuan shook his head again: "It's still not deep enough."

Gu Yongqiang thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I know that you have jointly established a film and television company with some bosses in Hong Kong."

"How about we do a company-to-company deal?"

"Sign a long-term strategic cooperation agreement and make it public."

"Is this kind of cooperation sufficient?"

This is actually already very good.

Once a strategic partnership with Youku is established and the news is released, the valuation of film companies on both sides of the strait will skyrocket.

“I think we can go even deeper,” Zhang Yuan replied.

Boss Gu's smile faded, and his expression became slightly more serious.

If we go any deeper... we'll be coming in.

However, Zhang Yuan still wanted to go in.

Because Youku has the highest revenue among all online video platforms today.

This is also why he deliberately quoted Wang Wei an exorbitant price.

Tudou.com ultimately couldn't compete with Youku.

Although among the four major platforms in later generations, Youku was only average.

Tencent is definitely the strongest. Pony Ma is indeed very good at business and content creation.

Forget about whether it's "borrowing" or not, just ask yourself how lucrative it is to make money.

Moreover, just like early television stations faced pressure from video websites, long-form video websites are gradually encountering pressure from short-form video companies.

Even Tencent's Weishi couldn't compete with ByteDance.

It's impossible to replicate the miracle that WeChat once had.

So, should we just skip Youku and just watch some short videos instead?

But you have to eat one bite at a time.

Just like knowing you'll eat well during the Lunar New Year, you can't expect to have a feast of fish and meat starting in March.

By the time you actually get there, you'll be starving to death.

We can only take it one step at a time, and we can't afford to make a single mistake.

Zhang Yuan took a deep breath and said what he had wanted to say for many years.

His purpose in collaborating with Youku was never to make money.

Rather, it was to have a place in online videos.

Not just an observer or participant, but also a leader!
"Mr. Gu, the in-depth cooperation I'm talking about is much deeper than you imagine."

"I think it would be better to join forces."

"Let me participate in the operation of Youku."

"I happen to know that Youku is also conducting another round of financing before its IPO preparation period."

"Your fundraising target this time is quite high, isn't it?"

"I think it will cost at least 4000 to 5000 million US dollars."

Prior to this, Youku had raised over US$1.6 million, equivalent to over 12 billion RMB, since its inception.

This round of financing is underway, and if successful, it will increase the total amount to over 16 billion RMB.

It can be described as an astronomical price.

However, the returns were also considerable, with the market value exceeding 200 billion RMB on the day of listing.

In other words, as long as you invest in Youku in the early stages, you will receive at least a 10-fold return by the time the company rings the bell.

Even those who joined in the last round of financing before the IPO could earn a 5-fold return in less than two years by the time of the IPO.

This was when it first went public; after a few more years of expansion, it will be even more incredible.

This is the power of being in the right place at the right time.

Whether you're a human or a pig, you can take off!
Gu Yongqiang nodded after hearing his words.

Even the amount of funding was roughly estimated.

Uku's target for this round of financing is $3500 million.

This is the minimum expectation.

Boss Gu wouldn't write an exorbitant price for the proposal.

Instead, they let investors raise the price themselves, thereby obtaining a higher amount of funding.

The actual psychological expectation is at least 4000 million US dollars.

Mr. Gu did a detailed calculation and figured out that this much money would be needed to go public.

"So you mean you want to participate in Youku's financing plan?" Boss Gu asked bluntly when he saw that the conversation had gotten to this point.

"Yes, I am very interested in Uku."

"I want to become your partner on your entrepreneurial journey," Zhang Yuan replied quite frankly.

They took the potatoes, and now they're coming to our Youku... Boss Gu thought for a moment.

They are indeed not comparable.

When we first met, his fame, net worth, and career were far less than they are now.

To be honest, I'm not qualified to participate in the financing.

Now...

Actually, Mr. Gu called today to discuss cooperation.

Of course, it's because of the TV series "iPartment", but it's far more than just valuing the show's economic benefits.

Mr. Gu felt that this film was a "heaven-sent rain".

Not only is it preparing for an IPO, but it can also boost morale and image.

Another important reason is the pressure from his former employer, Sohu!

Zhang Chaoyang publicly stated that his company is the national piracy center.

This is very serious, it could be fatal.

Some things are nothing on the scale, but once they're on it, they weigh a ton!

Leaving aside the legal risks, the image risks are also significant.

But just then, a TV series invested in and exclusively broadcast by Youku became a huge hit.

This is called sweeping away the gloom and restoring clear skies!

You said I only sell pirated goods.

But the most popular legal online streaming content right now is mine, so how do you explain that?
This time I'm using the official version, but on your Sohu Video, you've found pirated versions of "iPartment"!

Moreover, it's common knowledge within the industry that Zhang Chaoyang doesn't answer Gu Yongqiang's calls.

This is clearly Lao Zhang's tactic, deliberately spread out. But doesn't Lao Gu have any pride?
So now, taking advantage of the huge popularity of "iPartment", Youku has organized its legal department and officially filed a lawsuit against Sohu.

The plaintiff sued the other party for defamation.

Fabricating facts and using unverified data to defame and slander Youku has had a negative impact on Youku and the online market.

The statement also declared that Youku owns a large number of high-quality copyrighted works and has been supporting the development of original content.

Content such as "iPartment" and Guo Degang's crosstalk performances have been well received by a large audience.

Sohu, on the other hand, infringed upon the copyright of these Youku videos, resulting in a large number of pirated videos appearing on its website.

They returned all the points that Sohu had previously used against him.

Taking advantage of the film's popularity, they launched a fierce counterattack and regained some of the moral high ground in public opinion.

Ultimately, it all comes down to ability.

My work is popular, but yours isn't on Sohu, so of course I have more leverage than you.

Not only did they breathe a sigh of relief, but the internal pressure was also greatly relieved.

The timing was perfect; it was obviously arranged by Zhang Yuan.

Only when you're satisfied and have tasted the goodness can I start discussing business.

I'm not just going to talk business, I'm going to make you promises too!

"Actually, besides 'iPartment,' I think there's still room for development in Mr. Guo's work."

"Recently, I saw that a lot of people watched the few excerpts he recited in the bookstore online." "The TV station has also broadcast his stand-up comedy a few times."

“Like the Ugly Queen and the Legend of Ji Gong, they all have them.”

"However, the effect on TV stations is not very good because the broadcast time is limited and it is cut into too many fragments."

"Online platforms are different; there are no time limits."

"I think it would be great to create a stand-up comedy series."

“I am also a shareholder of Deyuan Society, so I can discuss this with Mr. Guo.”

"Furthermore, I am also a director of the Chinese Quyi Artists Association. I will then work with the Chinese Quyi Artists Association and Youku to organize a special event."

"Online platforms also have a sense of social responsibility, don't you agree?"

Gu Yongqiang knew immediately that the other party was just making empty promises.

But this pie in the sky is beautifully drawn, and it's also incredibly realistic.

And he knew that Zhang Yuan was truly capable of making pancakes.

The crosstalk side also happens to want to discuss contract renewal and recording of performances for next year.

Moreover, Youku is currently holding a so-called "Celebrity Awards Ceremony," and they originally intended to include Mr. Guo as one of the "celebrities."

What Zhang Yuan said is so appropriate.

"I'm interested in all the collaborations you've mentioned."

"How about this, I'll arrange a position for you as the Chief Creative Officer at Youku."

"How about you participating in the operation of Youku in this way?"

Boss Gu found a compromise, after all, Chinese people love compromise.

Zhang Yuan could tell immediately that he didn't want him to buy shares, or at least didn't have a strong desire to.

But the empty title of "Creative Officer" is very tempting for most artists, but for him...

Not only am I not interested, but I also don't have the time to do these things.

"It seems that President Gu still doesn't consider me one of his own."

"How about this, please consider it."

“We can sit down and talk together when we have time.”

"Not in a hurry."

Zhang Yuan is indeed not in a hurry. The script for "iPartment" is not yet finished, and this round of financing for Youku is not something that can be done in a day or two.

Besides, he said he wanted to buy shares, but where would he get tens of millions of US dollars?
They do have tens of millions of US dollars in debt...

He didn't expect to close the deal today; he was just giving a heads-up.

I'm about to get deep in here, so please be mentally prepared.

Leaving Gu Yongqiang to consider the pros and cons on his own, Zhang Yuan relaxed and focused on his work.

He can relax by leaving the pressure to others.

They were preparing to film a night scene that day.

Before filming began, Fan Bingbing came to say hello, explaining that her scenes were finished and she had to rush to her next engagement.

"I'm busy here too, so I can't take you."

"No need," Fan Bingbing replied magnanimously.

“If you really want to give it to me…” she said, then brushed her hair with her fingers. “Actually, I have about 40 minutes of free time.”

Inside the RV, there's a dressing room and a temporary rest area.

These are the places on film sets where sex scandals are most likely to break out.

Therefore, many people are watching.

Zhang Yuan certainly couldn't go; it would be outrageous.

What if we get photographed by paparazzi again?

Are you sure there aren't any cameras here?

Zhang Yuan led Fan Bingbing to the basement where props were stored on the film set.

"No, I've checked," Zhang Yuan replied with absolute certainty.

He knew better than the prop master whether there were any cameras in the prop warehouse.

I scouted the location on my first day on set.

The key point is that this place is not only hidden, but also has a lot of equipment.

There are ropes, sticks, candles, whips... It's a prop warehouse, so it's quite reasonable to have some of these things.

Zhang Yuan not only wanted to delve deeper into Youku's internal workings, but also had a genuine and in-depth exchange with Jin Suo.

The only problem was that the time was a bit rushed, which didn't allow him to fully demonstrate his abilities.

After seeing Fan Xiaopang off, he changed his clothes and went to the filming location.

The scene being filmed right now is a "burning paper" scene.

It's burning paper money for the dead.

Due to the era, what was burned was not a hundred billion yuan worth of Hell Tongbao paper money, but stacks of white paper copper coins.

The phrase "paper ash turns into white butterflies" describes how burning paper coins, when blown by a gentle breeze, can be lifted up and swirl in the air.

They prepared a black basin, a pile of banknotes, and an old man standing to the side smoking and holding incense, which would be used for starting a fire and for worship.

According to the plot, Shen Chongyang is burning paper money for the opera troupe owner played by Simon Yam.

Because he accepted money to inform the revolutionaries of their itinerary, the Manchu assassins located the theater, thus killing more than thirty former anti-foreign patriots ahead of schedule.

Shen Chongyang felt guilty, or rather, he was afraid that the vengeful spirits would haunt him, so he burned paper money for these dead ghosts near the theater.

This scene is meant to show that this person still has a conscience and isn't really someone who would do anything for money.

They knew right from wrong and hadn't completely lost their conscience.

This makes it more reasonable for him to work so hard later on because of his family and daughter.

In fact, many movies have logically sound characters during filming.

However, when editing to shorten the runtime for release, a lot of plot is cut, which makes some character changes look abrupt.

This is also the significance of the director's cut.

The director's cut is often closer to the director's original creative expression.

"With the completion of the temple, the relief efforts will soon be accomplished."

"The devotee is devout, offering incense and prayers..."

"On the first day, I arrived at the gates of hell."

"The soul of the dead has tears streaming down its face."

"My Buddha, Tathagata, Mami Mami Hong..."

When Zhang Yuan saw this scene, he squatted down and sang a section of "Master's Sutra" during his audition.

So suitable!

Zhang Yuan has solid basic skills and a good singing style.

The key is having the nerve to back it up; it doesn't matter how you sing.

However, assistant director Ye Weixing, who was standing nearby, stepped forward to stop them after listening for a while.

"Zhang Yuan, stop singing."

"what happened?"

"You'd better be more serious." After having dinner with Wang Wei that day, Director Ye became more cautious when facing him.

Knowing how capable he was, and understanding that he was no ordinary actor, I naturally treated him differently.

So when I try to stop them now, I speak politely.

"Sigh...this isn't good."

"According to the crew's rules, it's not good to be silly when filming scenes involving ghosts."

"I'm afraid of attracting unclean things."

Zhang Yuan scratched his head, "I wasn't being silly."

These are all legitimate crosstalk excerpts, written in the complete collection of crosstalk, lines that are hundreds of years old.

I've never seen this scene performed on a crosstalk stage to summon the spirit.

"Director Ye, that's feudal superstition," Zhang Yuan said with a smile, pointing at the other person.

“No, that’s not true. I encountered something like that more than ten years ago.” Ye Weiming said sincerely, “On set, two extras were acting silly, and the next day one of them fell off a mountain and died.”

"Don't do that, it's making me feel really cold." Zhang Yuan hugged his weak self tightly.

"Our film is about revolution, but it has a materialist theme."

"Yes, I have encountered it."

“You Hong Kong people are so superstitious, always doing all sorts of nonsense on set,” Zhang Yuan complained.

Now he finally has the right to complain about these things.

But no sooner had he spoken than Nicholas Tse, who was resting, came saunter over with a newspaper in his hand.

"Wow, did you guys see that?"

"Something serious has happened."

"What's the big deal?"

"Someone has passed away." Young Master Xie's face was full of regret.

"Who?"

"Which one?"

“A big celebrity has arrived.” Young Master Xie made a gesture of covering his crotch: “Michael Jackson, an international superstar.”

Upon hearing this, Ye Weiming turned his gaze to Zhang Yuan.

Not only him, but all the staff at Hong Kong were looking at him.

See, I told you so!

You've ruined an international superstar's career!
Zhang Yuan: ... (End of Chapter)